Ostracism (Greek: έξω-οστρακισμός - exo (out)-ostrakismos) was a procedure under the Athenian democracy in which any citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years. While some instances clearly expressed popular anger at the victim, ostracism was often used preemptively. It was used as a way of defusing major confrontations between rival politicians (by removing one of them from the scene)[citation needed], neutralizing someone thought to be a threat to the state, or exiling a potential tyrant.

advantages - not imposed from above, an expression of extreme disaproval by the population, pre-emptive. perhaps 1 month rather than 10 years.